‘Will vanish in thin air’: SC sounds alarm on Himachal crisis; says revenue can't trump ecology

Moreover, the court also pointed to rising temperatures, irregular snowfall patterns, forest degradation, and extreme weather events as evidence of a worsening climate crisis in the region.

The Supreme Court has issued a grave warning over the deepening ecological crisis in Himachal Pradesh, stating that if current trends continue unchecked, the state may “vanish in thin air” due to human-induced environmental degradation.

The court’s observations came on July 28 while hearing a petition linked to a 2025 Himachal Pradesh government notification that designated certain areas as “green zones” to curb construction activity.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan described the situation in the hill state as “having gone from bad to worse,” highlighting the visible and alarming impacts of climate change. The justices strongly criticised the state as well as the central government for prioritising revenue over ecological balance.

“Earning revenue is not everything,” the bench stated. “Revenue cannot come at the cost of the environment and ecology.”

While upholding a Himachal Pradesh High Court decision that refused to quash the state’s green zone notification, the apex court clarified that such measures were intended to prevent unregulated and damaging construction in ecologically fragile regions.

The bench underlined that it is not nature alone, but human actions -- unchecked urbanisation, hydropower projects, deforestation, four-lane highways, and tunnel construction -- that have largely contributed to frequent landslides, road collapses, and building failures in the state.

“Nature is definitely annoyed with the activities that are going on in Himachal Pradesh,” the bench remarked bluntly.

Quoting expert reports, the court also observed that the cumulative effect of infrastructure projects undertaken without proper environmental safeguards has only further heightened the state’s vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. Large-scale hydropower projects, once seen as a boon, were called out for their “considerable environmental costs.”

Moreover, the court also pointed to rising temperatures, irregular snowfall patterns, forest degradation, and extreme weather events as evidence of a worsening climate crisis in the region. Forest fires, encroachments, overgrazing, and expanding urban footprints were identified as additional contributors to the state's environmental decline.

Himachal Pradesh, with over 66 percent forest cover and a reputation for its natural beauty, is increasingly under threat from human greed and apathy, the court said. The rapid promotion of tourism, while economically beneficial, has brought unsustainable pressure on the state's already fragile ecology.

“If left unchecked, tourism could severely undermine the ecological and social fabric of the state,” the bench warned.

Recognising the unique vulnerabilities of the Himalayan ecosystem, the court called for a more inclusive approach to development planning—one that actively consults geologists, environmental scientists, and local communities. It also urged all Himalayan states to collaborate and share resources to address region-specific challenges posed by climate change.

The bench directed the Supreme Court registry to treat the matter as a public interest litigation (PIL) and file it accordingly. It asked the Himachal Pradesh government to file a detailed response outlining whether it has an action plan to mitigate the crisis and what concrete steps it proposes to take.

Acknowledging that much harm has already been done, the court concluded, “There is a saying that something is better than nothing.” It added that both the state and the Central governments are obligated to prevent further ecological damage.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 25.